Louise, Teiger and Jono Hennessy Sceats with sales agent Kerry Carey (front) at O=Mega23

Bringing a wealth of colour to O=Mega23 was new Australian designer eyewear brand The Elusive Miss Lou, heralding from the Hennessy Sceats eyewear family.

The brainchild of Louise Sceats and her son Teiger, the brand was born in 2020 after she grew bored of retirement following the sale of her and her husband Jono Hennessy Sceats’ brands – Jono Hennessy, Carter Bond and Zeffer – to Sunshades. “I had just finished film school and was looking for a ‘money’ job while doing my ‘creative’ job,” said Teiger. “Mum had the idea that we put them together and start something we could keep small and personal and have a lot of fun with. As we were coming up with ideas, Covid hit and we decided to spend our lockdown designing the very best frames we could imagine, as well as the funkiest, most colourful and heartfelt branding ever,” he laughs.

The Elusive Miss Lou brand is wholly and uniquely them, said Teiger. “It is all about colour and fun. Mum hand-draws the fabric pattern on her iPad before it’s printed and laminated into the frames. Each design is inspired by some part of her life.” The goal is to give wearers the ability to completely express themselves through their eyewear, he said. “We want to entertain anyone who comes into contact with our brand – put smiles on dials and spread joy.”

Now an inductee to the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame for his contribution to Australian design, Jono was unable to stay away, laughed Louise at O=Mega23. Though initially a mentor, he’s started up his own brand, Jack De Ross, after he saw the pair having such fun, said Teiger. “We all help each other and, as a family business, there's a ton of crossover.”

Currently, The Elusive Miss Lou eyewear collection is sold in Australia, France and the east coast of the US. “We would absolutely love to sell in New Zealand,” said Teiger. “Speaking for mum and dad, as well as myself, we don't need to be the biggest or most popular, we just want to make the best and most interesting glasses we can make. If we can wake up each morning knowing we are doing our absolute best to make a really great product and spread authenticity, joy, colour and good feelings, there's nothing else we could ask for.”